24/06/2026
Whenever someone asks what I do for a living and I tell them I'm a dog walker, the response is almost always the same:
"You've got the best job in the world!"
"I wish I could spend all day walking dogs!"
And honestly? Most of the time, they're right. I do have a fantastic job. I get to spend my days with dogs, watch them have the time of their lives, and be outdoors instead of stuck behind a desk.
But what people don't always see is everything that comes with it.
They picture the crisp autumn mornings, the spring sunshine, and those perfect summer days.
They don't picture the torrential rain that somehow manages to soak you right through your waterproofs.
They don't picture the winter mornings when your fingers stop working, your face goes numb, and you're convinced your nose might actually fall off.
And strangely, they definitely don't think about the heat.
For most people, 22°C means BBQs, beer gardens, and trips to the beach.
For dog walkers, 22°C is when the worrying starts.
Can the dogs cope with this temperature?
Do our routes have enough shade?
Will there be access to fresh water?
Is the pavement too hot for their paws?
While everyone else is celebrating the sunshine, we're constantly checking temperatures, adjusting schedules, and making difficult decisions.
On weeks like this, walks are swapped for early-morning outings, short toilet breaks, and home visits. The dogs' welfare will always come first.
What many people don't realise is that when it's too hot to safely walk dogs, we don't just lose work—we lose income.
No walks means no earnings.
So while people look outside and think, "What a lovely day to be a dog walker," we're often sitting at home, watching the thermometer climb, worrying about our clients dogs, rearranging our diaries, and wondering when we'll be able to get back to normal.
Don't get me wrong—I still wouldn't swap this job for anything.
But if you know a dog walker this week, spare a thought for them. While everyone else is praying for another day of sunshine, pwrhaos not quite as hot as it is currently, we're secretly refreshing the weather app and whispering:
"Come on clouds... just a little bit.bring us back down to at least 20*" ☁️🐾
So next time you say, 'I wish I had your job', think of us on this hot humid day 🔥
